But a shock 2-1 win by Jordan over Japan has dropped the Socceroos back to third place in the Group B Asian qualifiers with only the top two teams progressing through to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The Socceroos now have just one win and six points to show from five games and are in an intense battle with Jordan, Oman and Iraq to be the second team through to the World Cup behind clear Group leaders Japan.

In their final three qualifying matches in June the Socceroos will be looking to snatch at least a point in Japan, then storm home with wins at home against Jordan and Iraq.

But judging by much of Tuesday night's performance, that might be a pipe dream.

It took only six minutes for Oman to burst Australia's balloon.

The crowd of 34,603 at Homebush was stunned into silence when speedy forward Abdul Aziz Mubarak left central defender Michael Thwaite stranded for pace and slotted an angled left-foot drive through the legs of goalkeeper and stand-in skipper Mark Schwarzer.